EP1224645B1 - Method for coding and decoding objects in a road traffic network - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for coding and decoding objects in a road traffic network, whereby information on said objects is transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver, and whereby, different data, especially road traffic network digital maps can be used for coding and decoding the information in the transmitter and receiver. The objects have at least one chain of co-ordinates which lies at least partially on the traffic routes which are also included in the databank of and which contain specific characteristics of parts of the road traffic network.

Description

The invention relates to a method for coding and a Method for decoding objects in one Traffic infrastructure, including information from one Transmitter are transmitted to a receiver and their Coding and decoding in the transmitter and receiver different databases, in particular digital maps the traffic route network, can be used.

For the transmission of location-related information, For example, traffic reports are different Method has become known. This is the case with the TMC, for example (traffic message channel) a location based on a location code transfer. Its geographical location and thus also the Local assignment of the message are only by a so-called location database in the receiver allows. To Navigation purposes, digital road maps are used where the individual places and other objects through their geographical location and through their road links Marked are. For the transmission of any location-related information to recipients who have an appropriate Therefore, an increasing number of databases are used Coding - also called referencing - with the help of a geographical context. This referencing goes beyond the Specification of geographic data beyond, as this data Ambiguity can not exclude (for example a road under or over a bridge). In addition, you can Deviations of the databases, for example different ones Manufacturer, present.

From DE 198 35 051.1 is a device for coding and become known for the decoding of places, in which the Code from one agreement part and one coded place consists of all coordinate parts, the more Coordinate pairs contains, where a coordinate pair the transmitter-stored coordinates of the coded location and at least one more pair of coordinates at least one Help point represents and the agreement part at least the number of these contained in the coordinate part Contains coordinate pairs. It is with this device but not readily possible to encode objects and not to decode in the receiver-side database or not in identical form, in particular divergent Coordinates are available.

From US 5,745,867 is a method for Simplification of the coordinate transmission known.

Object of the present invention is to objects encode and decode in a receiver-side Database does not exist and / or if between the geographical indications of databases differences consist.

This object is in the inventive method for Coding solved by the objects with each at least one coordinate chain to be provided, the at least partly on traffic routes, which are also in the recipient's database, and characteristic peculiarities of parts of the Traffic network includes. The can characteristic peculiarities of the paths, especially curves and pronounced consequences of crossings, Branches and / or curves or objects that are in each of the databases used is similarly referenced are stored.

The inventive method can, for example, for Transfer of information to objects used their presence in databases of the recipient is not is expected. Such an object may be, for example newly built parking garage - so a punctual Object - or together with an access road one Form coordinate chain. Also a newly opened Bypass road can be used with the Transfer method according to the invention and in the database of a recipient. The the object In this case, information relating to a location can be referred to as such, for example, absolute or relative coordinates and names, other information, such as texts, Pictures, sound files, video files and internet addresses, or navigational attributes, such as Directions of travel (one-way streets), major / minor roads, Traffic restrictions.

The transmission of information according to the invention Method can be done on any media, for example via radio or an air interface (GSM, Bluetooth, WAP) or optical media. The information can also be exchanged via data carriers. Further are transmissions over different networks (ISDN, Internet) possible.

Name des Objekts, Koordinaten des ersten Punktes, Koordinaten des zweiten Punktes usw. oder

Name des Objekts, Koordinaten des ersten Punktes, Koordinatendifferenzen zum zweiten Punkt, Koordinatendifferenzen zum dritten Punkt usw.

Im Rahmen solcher Formate können auch vordefinierte Kurvenstücke übertragen werden.Formats for transferring the objects can be, for example:

Name of the object, coordinates of the first point, coordinates of the second point, etc., or

Name of the object, coordinates of the first point, coordinates differences to the second point, coordinates differences to the third point, etc.

In the context of such formats and predefined curve pieces can be transferred.

In carrying out the method according to the invention as coordinates usually those lying in the plane Coordinates (geographic coordinates, x / y) are sufficient. It is in the invention, however, also possible, the height (z) in the transfer and further processing included.

In addition to the already mentioned application for the transmission of Objects that are not in the recipient's databases or are not in the same form, there are more Applications. So, for example Information is transmitted to avoid places are, especially because of congestion, or that attributes in places be changed, for example, the driving speeds on dammed routes before a route calculation adjust. It can also be found in the databases of Receiver additional lines, so-called demand diversions, in the digital cards are entered. Also can Added or changed attributes to the digital maps are, for example, street names, opening times of Gas stations and touristy or otherwise interesting Objects (POI = point of interest).

The method according to the invention can also be used for this purpose be, two different digital cards together provided that they are mutually compatible for comparison Have objects. This transmitter and receiver do not have be separated from each other. As transmitter in the sense of the inventive method may, for example, a Serve navigation device on an interchangeable Disk has a relatively rough digital map, while the receiver is using the same navigation device for example, more detailed digital map.

For example, a user of the navigation device starts up a big city and uses a CD-ROM with a digital map, from the big city only the most important Contains thoroughfares. To the route guidance to a Side street, the user can use the CD-ROM through a replace a detailed map. If its location at this manipulation is not listed on this map, can be a coordinate chain containing the location with Parts of the thoroughfares formed and thus the Location and the way to the area of the detailed map in addition to this.

Depending on the training of the relevant part of the Verkehrswegenetzes can to achieve a Uniqueness of the receiver required coordinate chain be formed differently. To achieve a optimal optimal expression, especially possible fewer coordinate pairs, is used in a further development of the inventive method proposed that a determined coordinate chain with traffic routes of the database the transmitter compared and resulting in Ambiguities changed and / or others Coordinate pairs is expanded.

To make an unnecessary search for parts of the coordinate chain, the not available in the receiver-side database anyway are to avoid, is in another training provided that those parts of the at least one Coordinate chain, one of which corresponds to the database the recipient is expected, specially marked are.

An advantageous method for decoding objects, which are encoded by the method according to the invention, is that the coordinate chain with the object was compared with the database of the recipient is that in the presence of similarities at least a coordinate chain the similar part of the Traffic network is assigned and that according to the geometric position of the associated part not associated parts of the at least one coordinate chain with be connected to the traffic routes of the receiver database.

Thus, the receiver is also capable of information too Places that are not in its database, too decode and output in a suitable form, for example on a screen or by voice output.

Further use of the decoded information may consist in that the transmitted object and the at the object adjoining parts of the at least one Coordinate chain not on the in the database of the Receivers stored traffic route network, in the Database of the recipient or in another database be registered.

To realize the comparison of the coordinate chain with the stored in the receiver-side database Traffic routes is preferably provided that for comparison Method of pattern matching (map matching) applied become.

Fig. 1

einen Ausschnitt aus einer Straßenkarte,

Fig. 2

einen Ausschnitt aus einer digitalen Straßenkarte beim Empfänger,

Fig. 3

eine zur erfindungsgemäßen Codierung erzeugte Koordinatenkette,

Fig. 4

eine weitere zur erfindungsgemäßen Codierung erzeugte Koordinatenkette,

Fig. 5

die auf die digitale Straßenkarte gemäß Fig. 2 abgebildete Koordinatenkette gemäß Fig. 3,

Fig. 6

die auf die digitale Straßenkarte gemäß Fig. 2 abgebildete Koordinatenkette gemäß Fig. 4,

Fig. 7

eine weitere Anwendung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens in schematischer Darstellung und

Fig. 8

ein Blockschaltbild einer Einrichtung zur Übertragung von Informationen gemäß der Erfindung.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing with reference to several figures and explained in more detail in the following description. It shows:

Fig. 1

a section of a road map,

Fig. 2

a section of a digital road map at the receiver,

Fig. 3

a coordinate chain generated for coding according to the invention,

Fig. 4

another coordinate chain generated for coding according to the invention,

Fig. 5

the coordinate chain shown in FIG. 2 on the digital road map according to FIG. 3,

Fig. 6

the coordinate chain shown in FIG. 2 on the digital road map according to FIG. 4,

Fig. 7

a further application of the method according to the invention in a schematic representation and

Fig. 8

a block diagram of a device for transmitting information according to the invention.

The detail of a road map shown in Fig. 1 shows a real situation with several streets 1, 2, 3, 4. From the road 2, the access road 5 branches off a new one furnished parking garage 6 from.

The decoding of location-based messages in the receiver existing road map of FIG. 2 contains the streets in Form of connecting lines between individual through their Coordinates, including names or code numbers where applicable, fixed locations, which include simple waypoints 7, Intersections 8, branches 9 or other objects, such as for example, buildings of interest.

If the parking garage 6 (FIG. can be transmitted with the relevant message Database according to FIG. 2 equipped receiver this Do not decode message, that is, the parking garage can spatially unassigned. To do this with the to allow inventive method is transmitter side one of the shown in Figures 3 and 4 Coordinate chain 10, 11 formed to the parking garage. 6 takes you.

After the transmission, the coordinate chain with the Traffic network in the database of the recipient compared (Map matching). It is a comparison with the whole Traffic route network, for example, that of Germany, not required, as required, in the databases used coordinates match about. By the map matching will be the coordinates of the Coordinate chain belonging points shifted so that those which correspond in the receiver side Traffic network have on this come to lie. The Points 12 of the coordinate chain are not on the receiver-side traffic route network. This can, however be supplemented to this effect, for example in the database itself or in a special one of the supplements provided another database.

As already mentioned, according to a development of Invention be provided that the points of Coordinate chains 10, 11 as expected Traffic routes (roads) are, especially highlighted become. This will search in the receiver side Database simplified or accelerated, because a search, whether possibly the points 12 lie on traffic routes and possibly also a characteristic peculiarity then is not required.

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show the affected parts of receiver-side database with the already to cover brought coordinate chains. This is in the receiver-side database one suitable for destination guidance Information about where the departure to the parking garage 6 from the road 2 branches off and how the driveway 5 to the parking garage. 6 runs. Is for example in the receiver side Database the road 4 (Figure 4) does not exist, so is a Entry of the corresponding points 19 of the coordinate chain often not appropriate. In the method according to the invention is therefore preferably provided, only to the object. 6 subsequent and not in the receiver-side database 12 existing points in the database.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 is intended a traffic jam message is transmitted, which is due to a traffic jam 13 refers to a street 14, which is from 15 to 16 extends. In the event that not the places 15 and 16, probably but street 14 and another street 17 in the receiver-side database is present in the sender a coordinate chain formed over part of the Road 14 and extends over part of road 17. In the considered section of the road network There are no road sections, one such Form angles with each other and about the geographical Directions, as the streets 14 and 17, have. Therefore the receiver assigns the coordinate chain 18 as in FIG. 7 represented at the intersection of roads 14 and 17, which also points 15 and 16 as congestion start and end are fixed and can be decoded.

The device shown in Fig. 8 consists of a Transmitter 21, a transmission system 22 and a receiver 23. The object to be transmitted is in an encoder 211 with coded the method according to the invention, wherein both the Object 21 itself as well as the derivative of the Coordinate chain required traffic routes of a database 212 are removed. The encoder 211 passes the object and the coordinate chain to the transmission system 22. Im Receiver 23, a decoder 231 takes over the object and the Coordinate chain. The decoder compares the Coordinate chain with the traffic routes in its database 232. If decoder 231 finds in database 232 a Part of the traffic route network, very similar or the same is the coordinate chain, the object is decoded or locally referenced.

Claims (10)

1. Method for encoding objects in a road network, information on said objects being transmitted from in each case one transmitter to a receiver and it being possible to use, in the transmitter and receiver, different databases, in particular digital maps of the traffic route network, for encoding and decoding said information, characterized in that the objects are provided with, in each case, at least one co-ordinate chain which is located at least partially on traffic routes which are also contained in the database of the receiver, and comprises characteristic peculiarities of parts of the traffic route network.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the characteristic peculiarities are marked profiles of the routes, in particular bends and striking sequences of intersections, junctions and/or bends.
3. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the characteristic peculiarities are objects which are stored in each of the databases used, while being referenced in the same way.
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a co-ordinate chain which is determined is compared with traffic routes in the database of the transmitter, and is changed and/or expanded with further pairs of co-ordinates when ambiguities arise.
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that those parts of the at least one co-ordinate chain which are expected to correspond to the database of the receiver are specially characterized.
6. Method for decoding objects, which are encoded according to the method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, in a receiver, characterized in that the co-ordinate chain which was received with the object is compared with the database of the receiver, in that, when similarities are present, the at least one co-ordinate chain is assigned to the similar part of the traffic route network, and in that, in accordance with the geometric position of the assigned part, the parts of the at least one co-ordinate chain which are not assigned are connected to the traffic routes of the receiver database.
7. Method according to Claim 6, characterized in that the transmitted object and the parts of the at least one co-ordinate chain which adjoin the object and which are not located on the traffic route network stored in the database of the receiver are input into the database of the receiver.
8. Method according to one of Claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the transmitted object and the parts of the at least one co-ordinate chain which adjoin the object and which are not located on the traffic route network stored in the database of the receiver are input into a further database of the receiver.
9. Method according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that pattern recognition (map matching) methods are applied for the comparison.
10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in addition to planar co-ordinates, the co-ordinate chain has altitude co-ordinates.

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